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ミステリー
【𝙈𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮】

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✩‧₊˚
.

I pant heavily, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I finally finish my last lap with Aso.

We both burst into laughter, the exhaustion lifting off my shoulders as I cross the finish line.

There's nothing more satisfying than completing the gruelling run. The P.E. teacher claps her hands, her smile wide as she looks at us, clearly impressed.

"Good job, you two," she says, her tone full of respect. Aso grins, flashing his dimples as he gives a playful reply, "Thanks, Aunty."

I take a moment to catch my breath and glance over at the rest of my classmates, still pounding the track, but my eyes are drawn to Osano.

His face is tight, his brow furrowed, a clear sign of frustration. 'What's got him so worked up this time?' I wonder, but I quickly shrug it off.

I've learned that Osano tends to keep his feelings to himself, choosing to deal with whatever's bothering him privately.

Just as I start to zone out, lost in my thoughts, I feel a sudden vibration in my pocket.

I pull my phone from my pocket, and when I see it's a message from Info Kun, a cold shiver runs down my spine.

A surge of unease floods over me, dragging with it the dark memories of what I had done - memories I've tried so hard to push away.

I take a shaky breath, forcing myself to calm the growing knot in my chest before I dare to look at his message.

I swipe the screen open, unlocking it with a quick motion. My heart skips a beat as my eyes fall on his text:
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Info Kun

Info Kun
Meet me. Now.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

The words hit like a punch to the gut. I can't say no to him - not now, not after everything.

Panic and anticipation churn inside me, but I know there's no turning back.

I quickly glance around, my pulse quickening, before slipping my phone back into my pocket and stepping away, the weight of whatever's coming next hanging heavy in the air.

I shove my phone back into my pocket, the urgency of his message making my steps quicker.

I scan the area, making sure no one's paying attention to me, and slip away from the group.

My mind races, but not with fear-more with a strange sense of anticipation, like something big is about to unfold, and I'm right in the middle of it.

The walk to the meeting spot feels longer than it should, every step carrying me closer to whatever Info Kun has planned.

My thoughts keep circling back to what happened before, but I try to shake it off. I can't afford to overthink now.

As I approached the usual spot, the alleyway between two buildings, I spotted him standing there, his back turned.

He's always so composed, almost detached, but something about his presence makes the air around him feel thicker.

I slow down as I near him, trying to gauge the mood, wondering what's going on in his head this time.

"You're here," Info Kun says, his voice cool, but there's an edge to it.

He turns to face me, and for a moment, the world feels quieter. "I need you to do something."

I stop in my tracks, my words slipping out before I can even think. "But I already did something... for you."

His gaze flickers for a moment, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He looks almost amused, but his eyes-those sharp, calculating eyes-hold something else.

It's like he's measuring me, weighing my response, as if he's not sure whether I'm worth the effort or not.

"You did," he replies, his voice low, almost contemplative. "But that's not what I'm asking for now."

A shiver runs through me, not from fear, but from the way he says it-like it's just the beginning of something bigger.

He steps closer, the air between us heavy with unspoken meaning. "What I need now is something... different."

I swallow, trying to keep my composure. What the hell is he getting at? What could he possibly want from me this time?

The thought of what could come next twists in my stomach, but I stay silent, waiting for him to explain.

"No!" I gasp, the word escaping in a sharp breath as my eyes fixate on the image in his hand-my panties, unmistakable and unmistakably mine, held up by Info Kun with a smug, mocking smirk plastered across his face.

My heart drops into my stomach, and I feel a wave of nausea flood through me.

He notices my reaction, his grin widening as he watches my face go pale. "You thought I wouldn't find out, huh?" he taunts, voice dripping with superiority. "This is just a small taste of what's to come if you don't play along."

The room feels suddenly too small, too suffocating. My mind spins, desperate to make sense of what's happening, but all I can do is stand there, frozen, my pulse hammering in my ears.

"Why are you doing this?" I manage to choke out, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay composed.

Info Kun steps closer, the photo still in his hand dangling like a threat between us.

"Because I can," he says simply, his tone cold and detached, as if this is just another game to him. "And you're going to help me-or else."

His red hair catches the sunlight, the vibrant strands almost glowing as they shimmer in the light.

His red glasses reflect the sun, making it impossible to see his eyes, leaving his face hidden behind a glare of crimson.

It's as if he's deliberately putting distance between us, both physically and mentally, his gaze shielded from me, a barrier I can't break through.

I swallow hard, my throat dry. The air between us thickens, and I feel a knot twist tighter in my chest.

"What is it?" I ask, my voice shaky but defiant. I can't let him see the fear, even if it's burning inside me.

He tilts his head slightly, his lips curling into a smug, almost predatory smile. "You'll find out soon enough," he replies coolly, his tone unreadable, as if he's savouring the suspense, enjoying the control he has over me.

I stand there, waiting, unsure of what he wants, but knowing that this game he's playing is far from over.

"I know a secret about your friend Ayato," he says, his voice a low whisper, cutting through the tension like a knife.

My heart skips a beat. Ayato. The mention of his name makes everything inside me freeze for a second.

I don't even have to think about it-whatever Info Kun is about to reveal, it won't be good. The weight of his words sinks in, and I feel a cold shiver crawl down my spine.

He leans in just a little closer, his smirk never wavering, those damn red glasses still glinting in the sunlight, hiding whatever amusement or malice might be hiding in his eyes.

"I could tell you," he continues, his voice almost playful now, "but I think you'll find it more... useful if you're the one to make the right choices."

I open my mouth, but the words get caught in my throat. "What do you want from me?" I manage to force out, my voice steadier than I feel. "What does Ayato have to do with any of this?"

Info Kun tilts his head, savouring the moment.

"Everything. You want to keep your friend's secret safe, don't you?" His tone is dripping with satisfaction, and I know that whatever he has on Ayato is something dangerous, something that could change everything.

I clench my fists, trying to hold it together, but I know one thing for sure now: the game has changed, and I'm caught right in the middle of it.

His grin only deepens, and for a moment, the world feels too still, like time itself is holding its breath.

"The Basu sisters," he says, almost casually, like it's the simplest thing in the world. "I want you to eliminate the other one."

I blink, my mind struggling to process his words. "What...?" My voice cracks. I can't believe what I'm hearing. "You mean... her?"

"Yes," Info Kun says with a cold, deliberate calmness. "Her name's Miyu, right? The one who's been keeping her distance from the rest of the group? You're going to take her out. Just make sure it's clean. No mess, no loose ends."

My stomach twists violently, and a knot forms in my throat. "No... I can't... I won't do that!" My hands begin to shake uncontrollably, the gravity of the situation pressing in on me like a vise. "Why her? What did she ever do to you?"

He steps closer, that same smirk still plastered on his face. "It's not about her, it's about you making a choice.

You protect Ayato, or you protect yourself. But if you want to keep him safe, this is the price.

One life for another." His voice is ice-cold, his words cutting through me like a blade.

"Do it, and I'll make sure Ayato's secret stays where it belongs-buried. Fail, and you'll both regret it."

The air is thick with his words, and I feel the weight of his threat hanging over me.

My chest tightens, the thought of taking another life-especially someone like Miyu-grinding against everything I believe in.

But there's no denying it. If I don't do this, Ayato's life will be at risk. I'm trapped, a pawn in his twisted game, and I don't know how to escape.

I'm left standing there, my mind racing, trying to figure out a way out-but deep down, I know. There's no way out of this.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

A

fter school ended, Judo and I walked home together, chatting and laughing as we strolled down the familiar street.

The cool breeze carried the scent of fresh-cut grass, and the sound of our footsteps echoed loudly against the pavement.

Every now and then, we'd joke about something silly, our laughter ringing out like a chorus.

At one point, Judo nudged me with his elbow, grinning. "Careful there," he teased, "you're gonna trip over your own feet!" I shot him a playful punch, but he dodged it, laughing even harder.

We passed by our neighbors' houses, some with their gardens in full bloom, others with cars parked in the driveways, and everything felt strangely peaceful in the late afternoon light.

When we finally arrived at our house, we pushed open the door to find Mum sitting on the couch, her expression calm, almost distant, while Dad was lounging nearby, sipping his coffee with a quiet, thoughtful look on his face.

The house smelled like the remnants of a warm dinner, and the soft hum of the TV added a sense of normalcy.

"We're back! How was the funeral?" Judo asked as he plopped down next to Mum, his voice cheerful, but his eyes searching her face for some kind of hint.

Mum sighed softly, her eyes distant as she replied, "It was sad... so many people. But it was nice to see everyone come together." Her voice wavered just slightly, and I could tell it had hit her harder than she let on.

Dad nodded, agreeing silently, his eyes flicking up from his coffee mug with a tired but understanding glance.

There was a brief, awkward silence. I could feel the tension in the room, the kind that comes when something unspoken looms over the conversation.

Finally, Dad set his coffee down, his fingers lingering on the edge of the cup.

"I have something to tell you both," he said, his voice low but steady. His gaze moved between Judo and me, then back to Mum, who seemed to brace herself. Judo and I exchanged a quick glance, our curiosity piqued.

"I'll be going to the Philippines," Dad continued, his words hanging in the air.

"Why!?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. The shock hit me hard. The Philippines? Why now? Why would he leave us?

Dad held up his hands, trying to calm the storm of questions racing through my mind.

"I have a business trip," he explained. "This job... it's important. It offers a really good paycheck, and we could use the extra money right now." His voice softened, but there was a firmness behind it that I couldn't ignore.

"I'll make sure to call you both every day," he added, his eyes moving to Mum as if to reassure her.

He reached over and gently rubbed her back, as if grounding both himself and her in the moment.

I stared at him, still struggling to process the news. It wasn't that I didn't understand the need for a good job or that I wasn't grateful for the stability it would bring.

It was just... a lot to take in. Judo, always the more expressive one, opened his mouth to protest, but I could tell by the way Mum's shoulders slumped that she was already processing the weight of the situation in her own way.

There was a heavy silence that stretched between us all.

I could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall, the hum of the refrigerator in the background, and the faint sound of the wind rustling outside.

I glanced at Mum, whose face had softened, and then at Judo, who was still staring at Dad with wide eyes.

Finally, I let out a deep breath, deciding that whatever my initial feelings were, there was nothing I could do to change it.

I was angry, confused, and scared of how this might affect our family, but at the end of the day, Dad was doing what he thought was best.

I opened my mouth, about to say something-anything-but then I closed it, not sure how to put all the jumbled thoughts in my head into words.

So, instead, I just nodded, a small, reluctant acceptance settling in.

"I... I guess we'll manage," I muttered, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

Judo sat up straighter, his usual playfulness replaced by a quiet maturity. "Well, just promise you'll come back safe, okay?" he said, his voice more serious than usual.

Dad smiled softly at us, his expression a mixture of relief and affection. "I promise," he said, looking at both of us with a sincerity that made my chest tighten. "I'll be back before you know it."

Mum gave a faint nod, her hand reaching for Dad's. "We'll be fine," she whispered, though I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

And so, with the weight of the conversation settling into the room like a heavy blanket, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was a turning point, not just for Dad, but for all of us.

The next few months were going to be different, and no matter how hard we tried, things would never be quite the same again.

But for now, we were still here, still together, and that was enough.

*

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

I changed into my pajamas, ready for bed, but curiosity got the best of me. I opened my laptop, the glow of the screen filling the dark room.

As I scrolled through the news, my eyes froze on a headline: Missing: Inkyu Basu and Four Other Students. My heart skipped a beat.

I knew Inkyu. I knew I was the reason she was missing, but the other names-four students I didn't recognize-left me confused.

"I caused her to go missing... but not them?" I muttered, my mind racing. I didn't know what to make of it.

I shut the laptop down gently, hoping to forget what I had just seen.

But as I lay in bed, the questions lingered, twisting in my mind. Sleep didn't come easy.

The weight of it all pressed on me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something much bigger was happening.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

⋆˚࿔ 𝙎𝙐𝙆𝙄 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

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